Cooperative Reform

The Daimyo of the Land of Wind!

Only he could provide that much funding, bear a grudge against the Kazekage, and know about the special bounty channels within the Underground Money Exchange.

Moreover, the envoys from Daimyo Manor had acted very suspiciously. Even after Lord Kazekage explicitly refused, they had continued pleading for quite some time. Looking at it now, they had simply wanted to learn Lord Kazekage’s travel schedule.

The Sunagakure Anbu Captain gave an order, and Suna-nin Anbu immediately sprang into action, apprehending the two Daimyo Manor envoys who had yet to leave Sunagakure. Though they knew the two would yield no useful intelligence, anyone involved in the assassination of the Kazekage could not be allowed to live.

None of Sunagakure’s higher-ups had any objections to the three matters Chiyo had raised. Choosing a Kazekage was indeed the most urgent matter at present.

However, they argued for a long time over the candidate. Looking at the candidates for Fourth Kazekage, Pakura seemed to be the only suitable choice. Still, she had stayed away from politics for a long time, and becoming a qualified Kazekage would certainly require a lengthy period of adjustment.

But if they chose someone else, whether in strength, war merit, or reputation, they would fall somewhat short of Pakura. They could hardly select a Ninja with little war merit to serve as Kazekage; no one else would accept that.

After discussing it for half the day, they ultimately nominated Pakura as the Fifth Kazekage on Chiyo’s recommendation.

Pakura had been somewhat prepared, but when the position of Kazekage truly fell upon her, she was still stunned for a moment.

But Sunagakure truly needed someone to take the lead now, so Pakura’s opinion was not important. After everyone’s deliberations, she was the only person suitable to become Fifth Kazekage.

Because Sunagakure’s current circumstances were unusual, the succession ceremony might not be held until some time later.

Before that, Pakura needed to put on the Kazekage’s hat and make a trip to Daimyo Manor.

"Elders, Fifth Kazekage, are you sure we should do this?"

After hearing of the matter, the Sunagakure Anbu Captain felt deeply uneasy. It was his first time handling something so significant.

"If Sunagakure’s dignity can be trampled so easily, then there will no longer be such a thing as the Five Great Ninja Villages. Of course, this old man is only making a suggestion. My sister and I have already retired."

Ebizo spoke calmly, then fell silent at the side as though he were dead. He had already done more than enough for Sunagakure. If the younger generation always needed him to make decisions for them, then this village had no need to develop any further.

"Then we’ll do it."

Pakura spoke decisively. The decision she had made meant that more than half the people in Daimyo Manor would die.

"Disguise yourselves in Akatsuki’s attire. Leaving one of the Daimyo’s children alive will be enough."

Assassination was what Ninja excelled at in the first place. If the Daimyo of the Land of Wind wanted to use such methods, Sunagakure would naturally play along.

Pakura’s temperament was especially far more fiery than Rasa’s. Such a personality might not fare well in politics, but when dealing with outsiders, being a little hot-tempered could better protect Sunagakure.

Pakura set out with two Shadow Guard squads, while Suna-nin Anbu secretly followed to protect her.

Sunagakure and Daimyo Manor had not yet openly fallen out. The bounty placed on Rasa’s assassination was merely Sunagakure’s speculation and could not be brought into the open. Pakura’s succession as Fifth Kazekage still needed to be reported to Daimyo Manor.

After Pakura and her party arrived at Daimyo Manor, they met the exceedingly delighted Daimyo of the Land of Wind. He made no effort to conceal his joy at Rasa’s death, filling everyone from Sunagakure with rage.

After lecturing Pakura from a superior position, the Daimyo of the Land of Wind sternly rebuked her and ordered her to hand over ownership of all mineral veins in the desert to Daimyo Manor. He then waved her away. Neither his words nor actions showed the slightest respect for the Kazekage; he plainly treated Pakura as though she were a subordinate official of Daimyo Manor.

In the Daimyo of the Land of Wind’s eyes, Rasa, who had shown him disrespect, had died within days. If the Fifth Kazekage wanted to live longer, she had best not follow Rasa’s example. What mattered was knowing who the true master of the Land of Wind was.

The other Suna-nin had nearly attacked the Daimyo of the Land of Wind on the spot, but Pakura warned those beside her. After receiving the Kazekage succession document, she left Daimyo Manor.

After Pakura left Daimyo Manor, it was attacked by Rogue ninja. A group of Ninja wearing Black Cloud Cloaks charged into Daimyo Manor under cover of night.

There were many of these Rogue ninja in Black Cloud Cloaks. Daimyo Manor’s Guardian Ninja were killed and scattered before they could react in the darkness. The Daimyo, his eldest son, and all of Daimyo Manor’s officials were killed. Only a small number escaped disaster.

Afterward, based on intelligence from Daimyo Manor’s Guardian Ninja and servants, it was confirmed that a group of Rogue ninja from the Underground Money Exchange had killed the Daimyo and the Daimyo’s Successor, leaving only a weak child to inherit the position of Daimyo.

In less than a month, the chaos that erupted in the Land of Wind had spread directly to every country in the Ninja World, with countless versions of the intelligence circulating everywhere.

Some said the Daimyo of the Land of Wind and the Kazekage had clashed due to their conflict.

Others said it was the work of a group of audacious Rogue ninja, organized and methodical people who were surely planning something terrifying.

The Ninja World was abuzz with discussion, but within the Land of Wind, both Daimyo Manor and Sunagakure were busy elevating new leaders.

After becoming Fifth Kazekage, Pakura made time to visit the Patriarch of the Yasunori House. Although Sunagakure had severely intimidated Daimyo Manor this time, no one held much hope for the relationship between the two sides.

The Daimyo did not want to see a group of uncontrollable Ninja, while Sunagakure would not trust a Daimyo who had placed a bounty on their own Kazekage.

To ensure Sunagakure’s development, the most important matter at present was finalizing the alliance with the Yasunori Family as soon as possible.

Pakura said solemnly, "Patriarch Yasunori, please forgive me for keeping you waiting so long."

"It’s no matter. Such a major incident has occurred recently, after all. I too deeply regret what happened to the Fourth Kazekage."

Android 18 lowered her head slightly and spoke softly to Pakura.

"Then, regarding the alliance discussed between the Fourth Kazekage and you, can Patriarch Yasunori give us a definite answer?"

Pakura got straight to the point. After hearing this, the Suna-nin beside her sighed inwardly and turned their heads away. Lord Kazekage is far too direct. She should have asked step by step according to the words we taught her.

"Haha, Lord Kazekage truly has a straightforward personality. If we can settle one matter, I can sign the alliance at any time."

The old man Android 18 was impersonating laughed heartily, then turned serious and spoke to Pakura.

"After hearing about this matter, Lord Rasa decided to discuss it with your village’s people, but I did not expect an accident to occur. So I do not know what your opinion is."

"The Federal System?"

Pakura’s expression also grew solemn. Sunagakure’s higher-ups had argued repeatedly over this matter, with some supporting it and some opposing it. Even the two Elder Advisors did not dare offer advice lightly.

This matter had both advantages and disadvantages for Sunagakure. The advantage was that it could attract more people to join the Suna-nin. According to what Rasa and Patriarch Yasunori had discussed, the Yasunori House had friendly ties with many nobles from the Land of Wind and other small countries. Once Sunagakure decided to do this, many nobles and merchants would join Sunagakure.

This would not only expand Sunagakure’s manpower and financial resources, but the addition of so many nobles would also elevate Sunagakure’s status.

Furthermore, a more open system could attract even more people. Implementing the Federal System would be like reliving the era when the First Kazekage established Sunagakure—gathering more people together to create an even stronger "Sunagakure"!

Those who opposed it had many reasons as well. A mixed bag of forces would be detrimental to Suna-nin unity; the Yasunori Trading Company had ulterior motives and wanted more power; it would divide the authority originally held by Sunagakure’s higher-ups, and so on.

At present, supporters and opponents were evenly split. Pakura had privately asked the two Elder Advisors as well. Chiyo and Ebizo did not care about power, but they had lived through the era when the First Kazekage founded the village. Thus, deep down, both strongly supported absorbing more factions into Sunagakure.

The higher-ups and other Ninja argued endlessly over the matter, but the ultimate decision rested with Pakura.

After careful consideration, and after hearing Elder Chiyo’s analysis, Pakura understood that if she wanted to use her position as Kazekage to do something for the Villagers, the best choice would be to accept Patriarch Yasunori’s Federal System.

As long as it did not harm Sunagakure’s interests, the Federal System should be the best choice for strengthening Sunagakure.

After all, present-day Sunagakure could practically be described as riddled with holes. It had secretly broken with Daimyo Manor, the Fourth Kazekage had been assassinated, and if it also lost the support of the Yasunori Trading Company, then the Suna-nin could slowly withdraw from the stage of history.

"Patriarch Yasunori, in the name of the Fifth Kazekage, I accept the Federal System you proposed. However, its finer details still need to be discussed."

Android 18 nodded with a smile. "Naturally, that is no problem."

Establishing a system was not a simple matter, especially since the Federal System differed greatly from the current Ninja Village system. It could almost be said to be a complete overhaul.

If they changed everything outright, it would certainly make many Sunagakure Villagers uncomfortable. Therefore, it would be best to make changes based on Sunagakure’s existing system.

This was a massive undertaking. While negotiations were underway, Android 18 also summoned, in the name of the Yasunori Family, many Land of Wind nobles affiliated with the Yasunori Trading Company. Their forces were not large, but they bore the title of Land of Wind nobles.

Once gathered together, even the Daimyo of the Land of Wind could not easily ignore them.

These Land of Wind nobles also controlled some land and population. Only because the Yasunori Trading Company could allow them to earn greater wealth would they abandon the Daimyo of the Land of Wind.

Furthermore, on the list Android 18 gave Pakura were friendly forces from River Country, Bear Country, Land of Demons, and Rōran, all of whom could be brought over. There was even the Hundred Herbs Company, a giant in the pharmaceutical industry, listed at the end.

Pakura and Sunagakure’s higher-ups were all extremely excited upon seeing the list. Even some conservative Suna-nin who opposed the Federal System were shaken after seeing it.

If they could truly win over everyone on the list, Sunagakure might become the greatest force in the Ninja World. The dream that previous Kazekage had failed to achieve in their lifetimes would be realized in their hands.

After that, they devoted even greater attention to reforming Sunagakure’s system.